When Bjorn Rebney launched Bellator in 2008, Eddie Alvarez was his first big splash. Rebney gave the lightweight star a $100,000 signing bonus and made him a building block for the organization, and Alvarez took it from there, becoming a champion within it. The relationship between the two thrived to a point where the men built a friendship that transcended the employer-employee dynamic.

Within the last few days though, that bond has been at least partially fractured by a contract dispute that has led to dueling lawsuits and a cloudiness over Alvarez's future.

The issue shortly after Bellator waived its exclusive negotiating period, allowing Alvarez to take his talents to the open market. As expected, the UFC approached Alvarez about a deal that would bring his talents to its octagon, and Alvarez quickly signed an offer sheet. Under the terms of a clause in his Bellator contract, that promotion had a right to match the UFC offer, and that's where things get murky.

Even if this is true, the amount eddy would make in spencers in the ufc would dwalf anything he'd get there. Also I know they don't have to match predicted numbers from the likes of ppv but how can Bjorn seriously expect a good working relationship with a man he's suing to stay? Forget he's an athlete with a small window to make as much money as he can (which he is screwing him out of) and look at the fact that he's basically forcing his biggest star to stay! The interviews after will kill his company! No one will want to sign with them after they lawyer ed iPhone to keep people from progressing further!

It seems like Rebney matched the offer, but the issue seeming to be ppv projections which he doesn't have to match.

Someone filed a suit against the other and then the other also filed suit.

Funny though, that the UFC paid more to Lombard than they offered to Alvarez.

postman »
Posted 6/23/07 7:57:00PM

Posted by Twenty20Dollars

It seems like Rebney matched the offer, but the issue seeming to be ppv projections which he doesn't have to match.

Someone filed a suit against the other and then the other also filed suit.

Funny though, that the UFC paid more to Lombard than they offered to Alvarez.

mike chandler seriously killed eddie's wallet

grappler0000 »
Posted 3/24/07 5:29:00PM

Here's the solution. The UFC needs to rewrite the contract to state that they will pay Eddie $2 million flat for any non-PPV fight. Then the UFC could just schedule all PPV fights for him when they get him. Good luck matching that, Bellator. You're welcome, Dana (and Eddie).

_______________________________________

Twenty20Dollars »
Posted 6/21/07 4:27:00PM

Posted by grappler0000

Here's the solution. The UFC needs to rewrite the contract to state that they will pay Eddie $2 million flat for any non-PPV fight. Then the UFC could just schedule all PPV fights for him when they get him. Good luck matching that, Bellator. You're welcome, Dana (and Eddie).

But, can they rewrite it, since Rebney already matched it?

Manak »
Posted 6/29/07 12:28:00PM

Eddie wants to fight with the big boys and that is the ufc

infestructure »
Posted 1/18/12 9:29:00PM

Bellator can't match all the extra bonuses fighters get, locker room bonuses, KOTN, SOTN, FOTN, not to mention all the extra sponsorship money that comes from the jump to a bigger org. Plus there's the whole 'fight on the biggest stage on the world' thing, which cinches the deal for most guys. Eddie strikes me as a guy who would like to test himself on the biggest stage of all. I don't blame him for turning down the deal.

shaneTpain »
Posted 7/30/11 2:57:00PM

Dana was right... this is getting butt ugly

finnish_line »
Posted 8/16/07 8:54:00AM

Going forward, nobody with a future is going to want to sign a Bellator contract with the matching clause in it.

It's so dumb that the fighter can't choose between the two if the money's the same.

postman »
Posted 6/23/07 7:57:00PM

Posted by finnish_line

Going forward, nobody with a future is going to want to sign a Bellator contract with the matching clause in it.

It's so dumb that the fighter can't choose between the two if the money's the same.

High level fighters maybe but kids making $900 a fight in the minors are going to be willing to sign a decent contract and fight on tv. This is kinda like Tuff the deal the winner gets isn't the greatest contract in the world but they still have lines of dudes trying out.

Twenty20Dollars »
Posted 6/21/07 4:27:00PM

Posted by postman

Posted by finnish_line

Going forward, nobody with a future is going to want to sign a Bellator contract with the matching clause in it.

It's so dumb that the fighter can't choose between the two if the money's the same.

High level fighters maybe but kids making $900 a fight in the minors are going to be willing to sign a decent contract and fight on tv. This is kinda like Tuff the deal the winner gets isn't the greatest contract in the world but they still have lines of dudes trying out.

And ex-ufc fighters probably still will.

jjeans »
Posted 9/2/09 6:06:00AM

Posted by postman

Posted by finnish_line

Going forward, nobody with a future is going to want to sign a Bellator contract with the matching clause in it.

It's so dumb that the fighter can't choose between the two if the money's the same.

High level fighters maybe but kids making $900 a fight in the minors are going to be willing to sign a decent contract and fight on tv. This is kinda like Tuff the deal the winner gets isn't the greatest contract in the world but they still have lines of dudes trying out.

Had this sh*t not have happened and Bjorn just have accepted Eddies want to move to the UFC, it would have put the UFC and Bellator at good ties. I'm not saying they don't have any but if someone got cut UFC could encourage Bellator to pick them up etc

_______________________________________Never pick against a Russian, currently 32-11 (74%) in the UFC since 2012. #DoItForWatson

Dirty Blue

grappler0000 »
Posted 3/24/07 5:29:00PM

Posted by jjeans

Posted by postman

Posted by finnish_line

Going forward, nobody with a future is going to want to sign a Bellator contract with the matching clause in it.

It's so dumb that the fighter can't choose between the two if the money's the same.

High level fighters maybe but kids making $900 a fight in the minors are going to be willing to sign a decent contract and fight on tv. This is kinda like Tuff the deal the winner gets isn't the greatest contract in the world but they still have lines of dudes trying out.

Had this sh*t not have happened and Bjorn just have accepted Eddies want to move to the UFC, it would have put the UFC and Bellator at good ties. I'm not saying they don't have any but if someone got cut UFC could encourage Bellator to pick them up etc